School of Education signs MOU with Assumption College, Bangkok, Thailand
On July 24, 2009, in a three hour ceremony, Brother Anant Prichavudhi (G ’89, IDD&E), Director of Assumption College in Bangkok, Thailand signed a Memorandum of Understanding for educational cooperation with the Syracuse University School of Education. Corinne Smith, professor and chair of Teaching & Leadership Programs, and Tiffany A. Koszalka, associate professor of Instructional Design, Development & Evaluation were in Bangkok to discuss educational opportunities between SU School of Education and Assumption College. Assumption College administrators, teachers, students, parents and prominent alumni from both Assumption College and Syracuse University were also present at the signing. Brother Anant plans to visit Syracuse during the 09-10 academic year, his third visit in as many years, and the details of the MOU will be further agreed upon at that time.
While in Bangkok, Professors Smith and Koszalka and the Brothers of Assumption College explored several ideas for the formal ongoing collaboration between the two institutions. One goal of the agreement is for cohorts of Assumption College Thai teachers to pursue IDD&E masters certificates and apply for master’s degrees in IDD&E. In addition, Assumption College is interested in hosting a select number of SU School of Education students to assist in the English Program (EP) next summer. In the EP K-12 Thai students are taught only in English; so the desire for good English models is great, as is Assumption College’s commitment to advancing instructional strategies to enhance critical thinking skills.
The details of the this exciting partnership and international service learning opportunity will be developed and reported in the coming months.